Replacement level refers to which of the following?

Replacement level refers to which of the following?

• A. The rate at which births occur in a year
• B. The average number of children born to a woman during her childbearing years
• C. The level of fertility at which populations can replace themselves
• D. The percentage of children who die before their first birthday

Answer: (C)

Replacement level fertility is the level of births that keeps a population stable from one generation to the next, after accounting for deaths and migration. It isn’t just the number of births in a given year or the average number of children a woman has over her childbearing years; it’s the specific fertility rate needed to replace the parents in the next generation. In many developed countries this is about 2.1 births per woman, though it’s a bit higher in places with higher child mortality or different migration patterns. The other options describe birth rate (births per year), total fertility rate (average births per woman), and infant mortality (death rate of young children), which are different measures.

Replacement level fertility is the level of births that keeps a population stable from one generation to the next, after accounting for deaths and migration. It isn’t just the number of births in a given year or the average number of children a woman has over her childbearing years; it’s the specific fertility rate needed to replace the parents in the next generation. In many developed countries this is about 2.1 births per woman, though it’s a bit higher in places with higher child mortality or different migration patterns. The other options describe birth rate (births per year), total fertility rate (average births per woman), and infant mortality (death rate of young children), which are different measures.